State education budget hits neediest school districts the hardest
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Protesters set up a lemonade stand in Allegheny Commons on the North Side to protest tax loopholes for large corporations such as General Electric and Exxon Mobil. They claimed to be selling "$10,000 lemonade" to make up the shortfall in the Pittsburgh Public Schools budget. Actually they were giving it away to raise awareness. "Prez" Johnson, center, gets a cup of lemonade and talks with Ricky Torres, 10, second from right, and his cousin Allie Wingold, also 10, far right, who were staffing the stand. -
James Fancher of the North Side and his granddaughter, Jniya Jackson, 6, stop by for "$10,000 lemonade."
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The deep education cuts in the final state budget mean tough measures for school districts across the state but are devastating to poor school districts, many education leaders say.
Though the budget passed June 30 cut $900 million for 2011-2012 instead of the $1 billion proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett, it represents a dramatic drop and hits financially pressed districts hardest because they were most dependent on state funds.
Many of those districts had to reduce staff significantly either through attrition, furloughs or a combination and most lost their after-school and summer tutoring programs aimed at improving student achievement and scores on the mandated Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams.
For students, it will mean larger class sizes, fewer program options and in some cases, fees for participating in sports and activities.
For taxpayers, it will mean higher real estate taxes as some local districts were forced to raise local taxes to make up for the loss of state funding.
For teachers who were furloughed, it means financial hardship and the potential loss of profession.
Statewide, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, estimates that 3,000 of its members were furloughed and another 2,000 positions in its districts were eliminated and not filled. Spokesman David Broderic said those numbers could grow as more locals report to the state organization.
In Allegheny County, based on PSEA figures and news accounts from school board meetings, it appears about 262 teachers have been furloughed from the 42 suburban public school districts, vocational-technical schools and Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Districts are still tinkering with their budgets and class sizes and may recall some staff before the start of school, so numbers may shift.
Pittsburgh Public Schools have not announced any teacher furloughs but eliminated 217 positions -- 147 through furloughs -- among its support, clerical, central office and administrative staffs.
First Published July 10, 2011 12:00 am
